The basement in a Clayton home can only leak in two places: Through the wall and through the floor. Due to moisture or water intrusion, numerous issues can arise from a leaky basement, such as odors, mold, damage to valuable belongings, structural damage on and on.
It is possible that your house may be built with some exterior waterproofing system which typically includes a french drain or a waterproofing compound applied to the below-grade walls. Unfortunately, this type of exterior basement waterproofing system does not prevent hydrostatic pressure from building up under the slab and then causing basement leakage.
As we can see in the illustration above, a common leak occurs in a basement where the concrete slab meets the block wall. This area cannot be addressed from the exterior. If we were to excavate all the soil away from the house down to the footing, we still could not address the issue of leaking joints.
Common Water Problems in your Clayton Basement
1) Wall Seepage
Your foundation walls are the first part of your home that water comes in contact with. This water can seep down either through the soil or from a downspout. Over time, your existing waterproofing membranes break down, making your house susceptible to seepage. Concrete is a very porous material and is capable of absorbing large amounts of water. During an extended period of time exposed to water, a block will lose its structural strength.
2) Floor Seepage
The weakest part of your home’s foundation is where the wall and floor meet. Leaks and cracks can be caused by the ever-changing North Carolina weather which can take quite a toll on your home. The walls are installed over the footer before the concrete floor is poured. This causes cold seams where the concrete has voids. During hardening, concrete tends to shrink, which causes gaps allowing for water intrusion. During heavy rains or storms that over saturate the ground with water, homes with these gaps can become extremely susceptible to water damage.
3) Efflorescence
This white powdery substance results from a chemical degradation of the foundation. In places where the efflorescence occurs, the wall actually begins to flake away. This is most noticeable where the walls have been painted. In these places, the paint will peel or flake away from the wall, exposing the foundation damage
4) Cracks
Basement cracks, even those from the normal settling of the foundation, pose a direct structural threat to your house. Whether they appear on the wall or the floor, cracks indicate that water is flowing under your foundation and eroding the soil around your home.
How Does Basement Waterproofing Work?
Dual Pressure Relief System installation is the only effective way to relieve the pressure and to stop water infiltration.
Typically, the installation process is as follows:
Step 1: The inside perimeter of the floor is cut about 8-10 inches from the wall. A trench is excavated and cleared of all debris.
Step 2: The lowest course of block is drilled at every core pocket to release and remove the entrapped water. This step is not necessary with brick or poured concrete walls.
Step 3: A drainage pipe is laid in the trench and pitched towards the sump pit(s). All sub-floor voids are then filled with 3/4″ washed gravel.
Step 4: A vapor barrier is installed over the excavated trench and the floor is re-cemented to its original level over the drainage, exerting pressure against the wall and thereby adding stability to the foundation walls.
Step 5: To discharge the water collected through the drains, a submersible sump pump is installed in each sump pit. The water is then discharged away from your home.
Call our Clayton NC Basement Waterproofing Experts for an Estimate Today!
Contact our professional basement crew at (919) 847-7072. You can also fill out our online form to learn more about the benefits of our, mold remediation, crawl space encapsulation and basement services, and schedule your free estimate today! We will visit your home to give you the most accurate price point for the job. Our trained specialist will guide you through the options to determine the best solution for you and your budget.
All work is performed by Clayton Crawl Space and Basement Technologies trained technicians and each project comes with a Lifetime Warranty. All of our work is fully licensed and insured.
